1976 South Carolina Code of Laws
Unannotated
Updated through the end of the 2006 Regular Session

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Title 5 - Municipal Corporations

CHAPTER 13.

COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

SECTION 5-13-10. Applicability of Chapter 7.

Except as specifically provided for in this Chapter the structure, organization, powers, duties, functions and responsibilities of municipal government under the council-manager form shall be as prescribed in Chapter 7.

SECTION 5-13-20. Structure of council-manager form of government; election of members of council and mayor.

(a) Under the council-manager form of government there shall be a municipal council composed of a mayor and four, six or eight councilmen.

(b) The members of council and the mayor shall be elected in accordance with Chapter 15.

SECTION 5-13-30. Powers and duties of municipal council.

All legislative powers of the municipality and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the municipal council, each member, including the mayor, to have one vote. Without limitation of the foregoing, the council shall:

(1) Employ a manager;

(2) Establish other administrative departments and assign and distribute the work thereof upon recommendation of and with the approval of the manager;

(3) Adopt the budget of the municipality;

(4) Authorize the issuance of bonds by bond ordinance, subject to such restrictions and limitations as may be prescribed by law;

(5) Have the power to inquire into the conduct of any office, department or agency of the municipality, make investigations as to municipal affairs and give the public information concerning them;

(6) Adopt plats;

(7) Adopt and modify the official map of the municipality;

(8) Provide for an independent annual audit of the books and business affairs of the municipality and for a general survey of municipal business;

(9) Provide for the general health and welfare of the municipality in accordance with the statute law of the State with reference to the general police powers granted to municipalities;

(10) Enact ordinances of any nature and kind, not prohibited by the law or Constitution of the State or of the United States; and

(11) With the advice of the manager, appoint all committees, boards and commissions relating to the affairs of the municipal government, except as otherwise provided by law.

SECTION 5-13-40. Councilmen prohibited from holding other offices during term, appointing or removing employees whom manager is empowered to appoint and dealing with employees under control and supervision of manager.

(a) Except where authorized by law, no councilman shall hold any other municipal office or municipal employment while serving the term for which he was elected to the council.

(b) Neither the council nor any of its members shall in any manner be involved in the appointment or removal of any municipal administrative officers or employees whom the manager or any of his subordinates are empowered to appoint.

(c) Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations, neither the council nor its members shall deal with municipal officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the manager except through the manager, and neither the council nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately.

SECTION 5-13-50. Employment and qualifications of manager.

The council shall employ a manager and fix his compensation. The manager shall be employed solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. He need not be a resident of the municipality or state at the time of his employment and may reside outside the municipality while in office only with the approval of the council.

No councilman or mayor shall be employed as manager of the municipality from which he was elected during the term for which he shall have been elected.

SECTION 5-13-60. Surety bonds of manager and other municipal employees.

The municipal council may require suitable surety bonds of the manager and other municipal employees conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties. The cost of such bonds shall be paid by the municipality.

SECTION 5-13-70. Term of employment and compensation of manager; removal of manager by council.

The term of employment of the manager shall be at the pleasure of the council and he shall be entitled to such compensation for his services as the council may determine. The council may, in its discretion, employ the manager for a definite term. If the council determines to remove the manager he shall be given a written statement of the reasons alleged for the proposed removal and the right to a hearing thereon at a public meeting of the council.

Within five days after the notice of removal is delivered to the manager, he may file with the council a written request for a public hearing. This hearing shall be held at a council meeting not earlier than twenty days nor later than thirty days after the request is filed. The manager may file with the council a written reply not later than five days before the hearing. The removal shall be stayed pending the decision at the public hearing.

SECTION 5-13-80. Designation by manager of administrative officer to act in manager's absence or disability; effect of manager's failure to designate officer.

By letter filed with the municipal clerk the manager shall designate a qualified municipal administrative officer to exercise the powers and perform the duties of manager during his temporary absence or disability.

In the event of the failure of the manager to make such designation the municipal council may by resolution appoint an officer of the municipality to perform the duties of the manager until he shall return or his disability shall cease.

During such absence or disability, the council may revoke such designation at any time and appoint another officer of the municipality to serve until the manager shall return or his disability shall cease.

SECTION 5-13-90. Responsibilities of manager.

The manager shall be the chief executive officer and head of the administrative branch of the municipal government. He shall be responsible to the municipal council for the proper administration of all affairs of the municipality and to that end, subject to the provisions of this chapter, he shall:

(1) Appoint and, when necessary for the good of the municipality, remove any appointive officer or employee of the municipality and fix the salaries of such officers and employees, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or prohibited by law and except as he may authorize the head of a department or office to appoint and remove subordinates in such department or office;

(2) Prepare the budget annually, submit it to the municipal council and be responsible for its administration after adoption;

(3) Prepare and submit to the municipal council at the end of each fiscal year a complete annual report on the finances and administrative activities of the municipality for the preceding year and make such other financial reports from time to time as may be required by the council or by Chapters 1 through 17;

(4) Keep the municipal council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the municipality and make such recommendations as may seem to him desirable; and

(5) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or required of him by the municipal council, not inconsistent with the provisions of Chapters 1 through 17.

SECTION 5-13-100. Council authorized to create, change and abolish offices, departments or agencies.

Municipal council may, by ordinance, create, change and abolish offices, departments or agencies of municipal government upon the recommendation of the manager or may, in accordance with such recommendations, assign additional functions and duties to such offices. The head of each department shall be designated director thereof and shall have supervision and control over his department subject, however, to the direction of the manager.